Polish president-elect takes Trump-like foreign policy angle

Poland’s new president won election earlier this month promising a solution to the centuries-old tension between his nation and Russia: Put Poland first.

Karol Nawrocki, political newcomer and now Polish president-elect, prioritizes Poland’s sovereignty over European Union cooperation—“Poland first, Poles first,” he picked as a slogan. He argues against Ukraine joining NATO, a move that would further provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin to war. Nawrocki beat centrist presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski with just 50.9% of the vote.

Poles disagree over issues like abortion, LGBTQ ideology, and immigration, but, as Russia continues a war against Poland’s neighbor, Nawrocki campaigned on unity by focusing on the country’s international interests. Nawrocki’s narrow win reflects many Polish citizens’ hesitations about his future leadership.

“We want to live in a safe, economically strong country that cares for the weakest. A country that counts in international, European and transatlantic relations. A country that cares for its centuries-old tradition and respects its history,” reads an English translation of Nawrocki’s victory comments posted on X. “I will represent you with dignity in the international arena, ensuring that Poland is treated as a subject.”

The Polish president can serve for a maximum of two five-year terms. Current President Andrzej Duda finishes his 10 years of service in August. In 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk began working alongside Duda. While Tusk heads the government and Council of Ministers, the president has the power to veto the prime minister’s actions. Duda and Tusk are party allies of polar opposites: Duda for the Law and Justice Party and Tusk, aligned with Nawrocki’s defeated opponent, for the Civic Coalition tending toward liberal ideals.

In 2024, Duda and Tusk came before U.S. President Joe Biden, putting aside domestic disagreements to discuss NATO’s eastern flank security, according to the German Marshall Fund of the United States. As the war has progressed since then and Nawrocki has stricter standards regarding immigration, Polish citizens are concerned about the future cooperation of Tusk and Nawrocki regarding immigration and Ukrainian support.  

Adrian Lamberski, 22-year-old photographer in the southwestern city of Wrocław, primarily disagreed with Nawrocki for his serious Roman Catholic practices. As a protestant Christian, he instead voted for Trzaskowski, who argued for a greater separation of church and state.

Trzaskowski also vowed to roll back the country’s strong protections for unborn babies. He generally avoided conversations about LGBTQ rights, according to Reuters, and, as the election grew closer, Trzaskowski tightened his standards on immigration, fighting against illegal immigration and limiting refugee assistance. 

Salomon Krok, 26, an evangelical theology student in Warsaw, said that Nawrocki is the type of candidate to approve anything on the conservative side. Nawrocki promised a conservative candidate that he would “defend Poland against disgusting attacks” of Holocaust scholars researching Polish citizens’ actions during World War II, according to Notes From Poland. Claiming loyalty to Christianity, he said that, if elected, he would not perform the traditional lighting of Hanukkah candles with Jewish leaders in the presidential palace.

Krok is overall displeased with Nawrocki’s testimony. “He’s not an example of Christian faith,” he said. “We don’t have this much of separation of church and state, and I just see they are using … [Christianity] as a tool, because they know people support it.”

The Associated Press reported incidents of Nawrocki’s dishonesty and fights on the sports field, as well as possible links to prostitution and gangs.

Krok voted for Trzaskowski, although the candidate was not his ideal choice due to his support of abortion and LGBTQ ideology. Krok believes that Christians should discuss politics in order to search out a true understanding, rather than simply jumping to the candidate who claims Christianity. “I will be open about my beliefs and about my views,” Krok said. “I want to live the things I believe in.”